Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Wheeler.
Cassie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up with a very busy and active lifestyle. I was a competitive dancer and cheerleader for as long as I could remember. When I was a junior in college at Framingham State University I auditioned and was chosen to be an NFL Cheerleader for the New England Patriots. It was a big dream of mine and I could not believe that my name had been called to fill one of the only 24 spots available. Hundreds and hundreds of women audition each year. My first year on the team could not have been better. The Patriots played in Super Bowl XXXVIII and I was blessed to cheer in the game in Houston, TX. The Patriots won and it was the most magical experience from start to finish. That year I was also named New England Patriots Cheerleader “Rookie of the Year”. The following year as a Patriots cheerleader I traveled alongside Hootie and the Blowfish alongside my coach and a few other members of the cheerleading squad overseas to boost the morale of the United States Air force. We spent several weeks in Japan, Korea, and Hawaii. It was an incredible experience to give back to those who sacrifice their lives for us each and every day. That year I was lucky enough to cheer in my second Super Bowl this time in Jacksonville, FL. The Patriots won again! Both years I even participated in the celebratory duck boat parade in Boston. My final year on the team I was chosen to be a Patriots Cheerleader team captain. The Patriots did not go to the Super Bowl that year but they came very close. My time on the sidelines of the NFL granted me so many experiences that I will forever be grateful for. I was featured in swimsuit calendars, on television commercials, and even in the movie “The Game Plan”. I participated in hundreds of charitable events and met some of the most influential people. It ignited my fire to lead a life with purpose and to inspire other women to respect and love their bodies. Growing up, my mom battled relentlessly with a genetic heart condition. Deep down I had a passion for the medical field and in caring for others in their most vulnerable states. As a little girl when your mom is sick you look up to doctors and nurses and rely on them for reassurance that everything is going to be okay. I decided after retiring from the Patriots that I would go to nursing school and pursue a career as a Registered Nurse. I was lucky enough to land a job working the desk for Dan Kraft at Gillette Stadium for four years while I attended Laboure College. I graduated in 2010 on scholarship with a degree in nursing and passed my boards a month later. That summer I got married to my college sweetheart and then in the fall started my career as a medical surgical and pediatric RN at Norwood Hospital. I loved my job! I had such compassion for my patients both young and old. There were happy endings when I discharged patients in better health and there were horrible shifts where I simply held a patient’s hand at the end of their life and was there to help bring them peace as they transitioned. In 2012, my first son was born. Becoming a mother was the best day of my life. I went back to work part time after he was born. During that first year of his life however I began to have a shift in my focus. I wanted to still help others and care for people however in a more positive environment. On a whim, I contacted my old dance teacher and asked if I could borrow her studio in the off hours to start teaching barre classes to local friends. She gladly allowed me to do this and friends started signing up. I advertised my classes on Facebook and called them “beauty barre” classes. I was so surprised at the fact that each week more and more friends were signing up and loving the classes. I thankfully was able to utilize the dance studio for an entire summer and then decided that I might be on to something. I looked around town for a very small space that I could rent and create my own studio in.
I found one on the second floor in downtown Franklin and opened what I then named “live. love. BARRE.” on September 28, 2013. A friend in town who works as a web designer contacted me soon after to help create my website and soon the studio was off and running. I decided to work at the hospital per diem and signed just a 6 month lease for the studio. I figured if it tanked then I would just go back to nursing full time but it was worth a shot. I loved how I was still able to inspire people however it was never sad. I was never anxious at the end of the day like I was in the nursing field. I began to really get to know my clients and they got to know me. The classes were filling up like crazy and before I knew it I was teaching 18 classes a week all on my own. I was loving every single second of it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In January of 2014 I sadly lost that first studio due to a fire in a restaurant below. A friend had called to tell me that she heard the building was on fire. I had just finished teaching there earlier in the morning. I drove right over and couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew it was gone. I figured it was a sign and that I would be back full swing at the hospital in no time at all. However, the clientele I had built up in those few months were saddened at the thought of the studio closing for good. I called the dance studio again and thankfully she allowed me to continue teaching about four classes a week there while I figured out where I would go next. I was amazed at how many brand new clients I acquired during that transition period at the dance studio. I searched high and low and with the support of my family found the perfect new space for the new studio. It would take months to finish and was basically brand new construction. However, in March of 2014 my beautiful existing studio opened. I just recently resigned another three year lease. There are endless clients it seems. The atmosphere is beyond my expectations. I now have 19 staff members on my team. The clients are all so kind and have the most beautiful souls. I get to inspire healthy living and self-love. I pinch myself every single day that my path has led me here. I now have 2 little boys and am expecting a little girl at the end of the summer. This is what I was destined to do. I am forever grateful for my journey.
Please tell us about live. love. BARRE.
live. love. BARRE. is a unique boutique fitness studio. It is not too big and yet not too small. It gives you that intimate feel without being overwhelming. The atmosphere is serene and calming. You come to class to work hard and push yourself and you leave relaxed and rejuvenated as if you just had an hour at the spa. The clients who attend the classes and the staff who work at the desk and instruct are nothing but positive and welcoming. Nobody has ever left and said that they felt less than or uncomfortable. Walking into a regular gym and some studios can give you that awkward feeling like you do not belong. Nobody will ever feel that way entering or exiting live. love. BARRE. I created my own version of barre and work very hard when I train my instructors to teach my method. They are taught the foundations of barre which has an emphasis on ballet foundations however in no way shape or form does a client have to be able to or have any type of a background in dancing at all. That is the number one question I get.
“Can I take barre if I am not a dancer?” Absolutely! Barre utilizes small isometric movements to work the body to fatigue. You never leave a barre class and feel like you danced. You leave and feel like you just worked every inch of your body. There are so many different types of barre out there. I took what I liked and didn’t like from all those variations and created my own class that is entitled “l.l. BARRE”. It is a 60 minute class where we focus on legs at the barre for 25 minutes, arms for 10 minutes and then abdominal exercises for 10 minutes. We start and end the class with a thorough stretch. Our barre classes also conclude with an essential oil cool down that I also created when coming up with the structure of the class. The cool down is a favorite for the clients and they look forward to it with each class. Also, one thing that is different at my studio in comparison to most other barre studios is the fact that each client has his or her own barre for the class instead of having barres attached to the walls. It gives each person their own individual space. They can stop if they need to and then pick back up when they are ready without ever feeling judged. We also offer a variety of other incredible classes that when all combined on a weekly basis give clients the very best physical results. We have trained instructors who teach Buti Yoga, Buti Sculpt, Baroga, PiYO, Cardi-O Barre, Pound Fit, and high impact yoga. Our class offerings are unique and not traditional by any means.
The one factor that I am most proud of as a business owner is the community that I have been able to manifest. I am very selective when it comes to choosing instructors. They have to radiate happiness and self-respect. My instructors are a variety of ages, some are nurses, teachers, business owners and hold a variety of professional careers. Some of them are mothers. They are all different shapes and sizes. And above all else they are relatable. Every client can find that they have something in common witch each woman who represents the studio. They stand for strength, dignity, kindness, and they absolutely love inspiring other women to get moving and love themselves a little more. live. love. BARRE. will never just be a place to workout. It is so much more than that. I am eternally thankful for my instructors who walked into my studio, who support my ideas, and who have helped to create this unbelievable sisterhood within those studio walls.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Absolutely nothing. I would not change a thing. I did not go to school for business. In fact, if someone told me to major in business back in college I would have hit the snooze button and moved on. I am definitely learning as I go and it has been a challenge at times as things have grown. However, I am where I am today and this studio is successful beyond my wildest dreams. There have been some hiccups along the way but when I turn around and look back I know that I sure did do something right.
Pricing:
- All classes are $18 each!
- Clients can save by purchasing classes in bulk if they choose. We offer a 10 class pass for $140, a 20 class pass for $220, a month unlimited pass for $199 and a year unlimited pass for $1999!
- We do not charge joining or membership fees EVER! Clients can come and go as they please!
Contact Info:
- Address: 38 East Central St. Franklin, MA 02038
- Website: www.livelovebarre.com
- Phone: 508-440-5553
- Email: livelovebarre@gmail.com
- Instagram: @l.l.barre
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/livelovebarre
Image Credit:
Katie Hall Photography
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